Rotary drilling machine



s Sheets-Sheet 2 Nu m $3304 A n I i QMQ Dec. 3, 1940. R. 'R. BLOSS ROTARY DRILLING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1940 IIflIIlIIA j M 1m m mqwn 3 Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES aorartvnnnmd 1 i Richard It. Bloss, Beaumont, Tex., assignortox'lhe International Derrick thiEquipment Company H of Texas, Beaumont, Tex.,,acorporatlon of Texas Application'May 24, 19 40:, sea in .scar er;

scams. (ma-23x o i transverse, sectional view taken on the line 5-4 This invention relates to a rotary drilling machine.

, The invention embodies certain improvements over that type of rotary drillingmachine disclosed 5 in my co-pending applicationflled in the United face of the table but decline from the'table and are curved transversely. These top surfaces are so shaped in order that the drilling fluid discharged onto the same ,willquickly and effectively drain oil? so as not to interfere with the workmen who at times stand on the extended endsoi the base while carrying on drilling operations. Q

As is well known while breaking up a drill stem, in'withdrawing'the same fromawell, the drilling fluid filling the stem will drain outover the rotary drilling machine. This drilling fluid is very slippery and if the top surfaces of the base structure are flat this slippery, or slimy, drilling fluid will remain thereon and will form a constant hazard to the workmen. Accordingly, the 'su'rfacesreferred to are given only sufiicientpitch and ourvature to cause the eflicient draining of the drilling fluid therefrom and at the same time to form a safe support for the workmen standing thereon.

It is another object of the invention to provide a rotary drilling machine, the rotary table of which is provided with radial scrapers which are effective to carry off the mud or other foreign matter which may find its way'betweenthe base structure and table and to discharge the same through suitable openings provided for thepurpose in the outer sides of the base structure.

It is a further object or the invention to provide novel sealing means between the rotary table and the base structure which isvery effectiveto exclude foreign matter from the interior of the machine. U 1 d 1 With the above and other objectsin view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example 01 which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings: a

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the complete-machine. t

Figure 2 shows a perspective view as viewed from the bottom. q

Figure 3 shows a longitudinaL. sectional view taken on theline 3-3 0! Figure l. I

Figure 4 showsan enlarged, fragmentary longitudinal sectional view. 1

Figure 5 shows an enlarged, fragmentary,

Figurel. Figure 7 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, horiofFlgureti. r; o i Figure 6 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional zontal, sectional view, taken on the line 1- of Figure 6, and 1 Figures 8,9, and 10 showi'ragmentary, vertical,

sectionalviews illustrating other-types of guard ring employed. w i h I Referring now more particularly to the drawview taken on theline of ings "wherein like numerals of referencedesignate the same parts in each of the iigures,*the numeral I designates the base structure as a whole which is "is of an inverted box-like form having the side wallsZ, 2, the endwallsi, 4 and the top indicated generally by the numeral 5. Thelower margins of the walls 2, 2 terminate in the skids or runners 6,6 whose forward ends are upwardlyturned as more accurately shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The top has a circular opening Iof somewhat greater diameter than the'width of thebase, said opening being deiinedon each side by the laterallyfarched hoods 8,8. The opening Iis defined tion designated generally by the numeral 8. The lower endof this wall is reducediri diameter,

forming, by such reduction, a. horizontally 'extending annular ledge lo which has an annular,

inside, upstanding rim llshown'more clearly in Figure 3 and the wall extends on upwardly and is outwardly ofiset forming the intermediate, annular ledge 12 as shown inFigure 3 and near its upperend again outwardly offset defining the matter finding its way from the top of the table into said channel will be discharged outthrough l by a vertical wall circular in horizontal cross-sec- 2 the openings l3 as will behereinaiter explained.

Therim' II and the outer wall forms an annular channel within the wall 01 which the ledge i0 formsthe'bottom. The circular wall 9 is anoiwhich is shown more accurately in Figure 2.

chored 'in place by the transverseand radial, vertically extended webs M, ii which are formed invtegrally with said :wall, the .web ll being formed integrally with the side walls 2 and the web I! being formed integrallyflwith theend wall 4, all

Between the end wall 3 of thebase and the circular wall 9 and formed integrally with said walls there is a circular shell lt liorming a housing, the innerend of which is enlarged and'tormed into a drain outlets l1, 'Ila closed by suitable plugsas shown inFlgure 3. a I Thebase consisting of thepartshereinabove gear case 1611. The housing isprovided with described is preferably cast as a single unit.

The numeral I8 designates the rotary table as a whole. It is mounted in theopening I withits upper surface substantially flush with the adjacent part of the upper surface of the top 5 of the base. It will be noted from an inspection of Figures 1 and .4 that thetop surface 5 of the base extends each way beyond the rotary table thus providingthe walking spaces 5a, 5b at each end for workmen. These extensions 5a, 5b decline each way from the rotary table and are upwardly curved or arched transversely so that the slippery drilling fluid which is spilled out, of the drill stem as it is broken up and which falls on the base structure will readily drain off so that said extensions will automatically keep themselves relatively clean and free of slippery substances to the end that workmen standing on the top of the base structure will not be liable to fall thus minimizing the danger of injury to them. To facilitate this drainage longitudinal and cross-channels may be providedas shown in Figures 5, 8, 9

and 10.

Around the opening I the top of the base is countersunk and the adjacent margin of the table is also countersunk thus providing an annular groove to receive the annular'table guard ring l9 which breaks the joint between the table and the top of the base and wards off much of the slush and other foreign matter which might enter between the table and the base top. An

annular inside groove 20 is thus provided in which the margin of the rotary table runs and which merges, at each side of the base, into the discharge openings l3 as hereinabove explained. The margin of the table is provided with external, radial lugs 2| spaced apart therearound and forming scrapers. grallywith the rim of the table or otherwise secured thereto. They rotate with the table and carry the mud or other foreign matter which may collect in the channel 28 around to the openings l3 through which said foreign matter drops to the outside of the rotary. r

Upstanding from and formed integrally with the defining wall 9 there is an annular flange 22 shown more clearly in Figure 6 and the margin of the table has an annular groove 23 which faces downwardly and which receives theflange 22. Within and fitting closely against the inner wall of the flange 22 there is a suitable outwardly expansible seal ring which is seated in a circular groove in the rotary table as clearly shown in Figure 6. The seal ring 24 may b locked against rotationwith the table by means of the lug 22a on the flange 22 which fits between the open ends of the seal ring. Around and fitting closely against the outer wall of the flange 22 there is a seal ring 25 which is seated in a circular groove in the rotary table as clearly shown in Figure 6 and which may be locked against rotation with the table by means of the lug 22b on the flange 22 which flts between the open ends of said seal ring 25. A very eflicient seal is thus provided 65 the external, annular, downwardly facing bear- 7 They may be' cast inte-,

ing face 21. about the skirt of theetable against which there is fitted and secured the upper race- Y way ring 28 which surrounds the skirt. On the ledge l8 within the wall 9 there is the raceway ring 29. The rings 28, .28 have the opposing complemental raceways' 30, 3| therein in which the series of ball bearings 32 are confined and which support the table I8; There is an annular holddown ring 33 supported on and anchored to the upper ledge l2 of the wall 9 and which is preferably formed of two sections for ease in assembly.

The inner. margin of the holddown rings overlaps an external, annular flange 34 on the table, said ring and flange forming an upthrust bearing to maintain the table securely seated on the bearings 32 on which it is mounted.

The upper end of the opening through the tabl is enlarged and polygonal in shape thus providing an inside supporting seat [8a for the table bushing 35 which is mounted in the table and extends downwardly into the table skirt and is formed to receive conventional drive bushings for engaging and driving the kelly of the drill stem. The bushing 35 is formedv of sections, two being shown.

Surrounding and suitably secured to the underside of the margin of the rotary table l8 there is a gear ring 36 formed. with beveled gear teeth which are in mesh with a pinion 31 which is located in the case l6 and is fixed on the inner end of the pinion shaft 38; The shaft 38 may be driven from a suitable power through sprocket wheel 39 fixed on the outer end thereof.

Means have been provided for releasably locking the bushing 35 in place and other means have been provided for locking the rotary table against turning while making up and breaking out the drill stem; also, a noveltype of assembly for mounting the pinion shaft and pinion has been provided as. well as a novel lubricating system. These features, however, are substantially disclosed in my co-pendlng application hereinabove referred to and will not be further explained in detail herein.

In the illustration shown in Figure 8 the top surface of the guard ring I9a is shown sloping in the same plan as the top of the extension 511. As illustrated in Figure 9 the top surface of the guard ring [8b is shown partly sloping in the same .plane'as the top. of the extension 5a and partly on a level with the adjacent top surface of the table, while in Figure 10 the top surface of the guard ring I is shown flat, or on the level with the adjacent top surface of the rotary table. In each ofthese forms,. however, the guard ring has. the outwardlysloping mud drainage channels to drain off the mud and slush as wellas the cross-channels to provide for drainage as well" as to provide roughened upper surface to I prevent slippage of the workmen.

from the upper surface of the rotary table.

2. In a rotary drilling machine, the combination of a base having an outer, annular wall and a pinion shaft-supporting portionextending outwardly from said wall, a rotary table located within said annular wall, the pinion shaft supextended portion formed integrally with the base of substantially rectangular cross-section the upper surface of said outwardly extended portion declining outwardly from the plane of the upper surface of the rotary table.

4. In a rotary drilling machine, the combination with a base having a vertical opening therethrough and an outer, annular flange, of a rotary table mounted in the opening within said flange, the base being provided with an outwardly extended portion formed integrally with the base of substantially rectangular cross-section, the upper surface of said outwardly extended portion declining outwardly from the plane of the upper surface of the rotary table and being upwardly convexed.

5. In a rotary drilling machine, the combination of a base having an opening defined by a vertical, annular wall, a table rotatably supported in the base within the annular wall and havin its upper surface in substantially the same plane as the top of the wall, said base having integral extensions about each side of the opening and having vertical side walls and vertical end walls which define a box-like construction, the upper margins of the end walls being parallel to, but below the plane of, the table top. said base also having an integral top extending from the upper portion of the annular wall to the end walls and side walls, said top being arched and declining each way from said annular wall.

6. In a rotary drilling machine, a base of an inverted box-like cr istruc ion having vertical side walls and vertical end walls and having an opening for a rotary (table defined by a surrounding, annular wall whose upper end is above the upper margins of the end walls, a top for the base connecting the annular wall with the end walls, a portion of the top adjacent the annular wall being flush with the top of said annular wall and the upper surface of the top declining from the annular wall and being upwardly curved.

7. In a rotary drilling machine, a base of an inverted, box-like construction having an upstanding, annular wall defining an opening, a table rotatably supported in the opening, the base having integral extensions on opposite ends,

the upper surfaces'of which decline from the up- I per end of the annular wall to the end walls of the base, said upper surface be ng upwardly curved in cross-section.

I 8. In a rotary drilling machine, a base of an inverted, box-like construction having approximately vertical side walls and approximately vertical end walls, an annular wall defining a vertical opening through the base, a rotary table supported for rotation within the opening, said base having an upwardly curved top surface which declines outwardly from a plane which is substantially common with the plane of the upper surface of the table.

9. In a rotary drilling machine, a base having an annular wall defininga vertical opening, a

having an inwardly facing channel which receives the rim of the table and which has a discharge table rotatably mounted in the opening, said base opening outside of the base, and external means on said rim provided to engage foreign matter in the channel and to carry said foreign matter to,

and discharge the same through, said discharge opening.

. 10. In a rotary drilling machine, abase having a table receiving opening and having an inwardly facing, annular channel merging into oppop sitely arranged discharge openings outside of the grooves, seal rings in said grooves in sealing relationship with theouter and inner surfaces, respectively, of the upstanding, annular wall.

12. In a rotarydrilling machine, the combination including a base having an upstandin annular wall defining an opening, is rotatably supported table in the opening having annular grooves, seal rings in said grooves in sealing rela-- tionship with the outer and inner surfaces, re-

spectively, of the upstanding, annular wall and I means for preventing rotation] of the seal rings with the table. I i I ,7

13. In a rotary drilling machine, the combination of a base having an outer annular wall and a pinion shaft supporting portion extending outwardly from said wall, a rotaryv table located within the annular wall, the pinion shaft supporting portion being provided with an integrally formed upper surface which declines outwardly from the upper surface of the rotary table and a I guard ring which covers the joint between the table and base and whose uppersurface slopes downwardly and outwardly. I l I I 14. In a rotary drilling machine, the combina tion of a basehaving an outer annularwall and a pinion shaft supporting portionextending outwardly from; said wall, a rotary table located within the annular wall, the pinion shaft supporting portion being provided with an integrally formed upper surface which declines outwardly from the upper surface of the rotary table and a guard ring which covers the joint between the.

table and base and whose upper surface slopes downwardly and outwardly and is provided with drainage channels, i I I i 15. In a rotary drilling machine, the combination of a base having a vertical opening therethrough and an outer, annular fiange, of a rotary table mounted in the opening within said.

flange, the base being provided with an outwardly extended portion formed integrally with the base of substantially rectangular cross-section, the up-- per surf-ace of said outwardly extended portion declining outwardly from the plane of the upper surface of the rotary table and being upwardly convexed and an annular guard ring covering the joint between the rotary table and the base and whose upper surface has outwardlyand downwardly declining drainage channels.

RICHARDR. BLOSS. 

